The Vocational-Technical Education Consortium (V-TECHS) was formed to help develop vocational-technical materials in the use of performance objectives and criterion-referenced test items which have been validated against actual job performance. (BP)

Since competency-based instruction is based on the testing process, this study suggests that careful attention to the construction of tests can produce a reliable, valid measure. The next steps to be taken include developing larger banks of test items, increasingly accurate tests, and instruction to meet specified objectives of the curriculum.…

The Instructional Support System for Occupational Education (ISSOE), developed in New York during the past five years, consists of a student-outcome-oriented curriculum that is locally developed and implemented by teachers. The teachers who have been using the ISSOE materials have indicated some difficulty in implementing the system because of the…

This module, the first of four units about vocational competency measurement, is module 17 in the Vocational Education Curriculum Specialist series. The purpose stated for the document is to trace the growth of the formal measurement of skills, knowledge, and attitudes in vocational programs and to present some uses of competency testing in…

This module, the third of four units about vocational competency measurement, is module 19 in the Vocational Education Curriculum Specialist series. The purpose stated for the document is to help in the development of both written and performance competency tests based on the needs identified for testing a particular program and the standards and…

This booklet has been written to help persons interested in assessment of education and training programs in general and competency-based vocational education programs in particular. The following topics are covered in the individual sections: the meaning of the term "assessment"; the importance of assessment; curriculum models; percentages and…

Problems associated with criterion-referenced language testing are discussed in the context of both standardized proficiency testing and classroom assessment. First, different interpretations of criterion-referencing are examined. A range of approaches for defining criteria and performance levels in second language assessment are outlined, and…

This combined discussion guide and questionnaire, intended for public or professional audiences, consists of three major sections. The first section is a narrative background description of major issues, options, and arguments for minimum competency testing: Will you test minimum competencies? What competencies will you require? How will you…